Special to The Beacon
Georgia Rivers and partners are hosting low-cost kayaking and water safety instruction classes before Memorial Day weekend.
Six “Kayaking 101” classes will be held Saturday, May 17 in various locations across the state to kick off National Safe Boating Week.
Closest instruction to Southeast Georgians is at the Rodney Hall Boat Ramp on Skidaway Island in Savannah. The class will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine.
Cost is $15 per person and includes a free kayak rental with registration. The course covers basic paddle strokes and rescue maneuvers to educate everyone on safe boating.
Instructors are volunteers who are nationally certified with the American Canoe Association to give paddling and rescue training, and are supported by experienced safety teams.
Kayakers comprise the bulk of paddlesports growth, and the majority of paddling fatalities. Surprisingly, accidents happen most often in calm water conditions.
Nearly 75 percent of fatalities involve paddlers with fewer than 100 hours experience and 35 percent of those have fewer than 10 hours experience, statistics show.
For more information, visit www.garivers.org.
